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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuman Rights and Diversity - 10/08/2009 APPROVED MINUTES EDEN PRAIRIE HUMAN RIGHTS AND DIVERSITY COMMISSION (HRDC) THURSDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2009 7:00 P.M., 125 EDEN PRAIRIE CENTER Office of Housing and Human Services COMMISSION MEMBERS: Pam Spera(Chair), Marcy Harris (Vice Chair), Daniel Abraira, Peter Huck, Linda Crawford and Lauren Juergensen STAFF: Molly Koivumaki, Manager- Housing and Community Services Scott Neal, City Manager Heidi Wojahn, Recorder STUDENT REPRESENTATIVES: Adam Liter, Muna Shire and Fardowsa Ali I. CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL Chair Spera called the meeting to order at 7:15 p.m. Commissioner Marcy Harris was excused from this evening's meeting. Commissioner Daniel Abraira arrived at 7:20 p.m. The new student commissioners introduced themselves. II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Items VI.A. Religious Holiday and Diversity Policy and VI.B. Conflict Resolution Training were added to the agenda. Revised agenda approved by informal consent. III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES September 10, 2009 minutes approved by informal consent. IV. NEW BUSINESS Huck stated a need to delay his work on the Bias Crime Response Network,but it is still something he is very much interested in being a part of. Neal reported the City is in the process of interviewing potential prosecutors. It might be helpful to have the selected prosecutor attend HRDC meetings on an annual basis to report on human rights-related issues they see active in the court system. Commissioner Abraira arrived at 7:20 p.m. Crawford expressed concern over low Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment (MCA) test scores of African American students in the Eden Prairie Schools and suggested having the school board report to HRDC on what steps are being taken to ensure HUMAN RIGHTS AND DIVERSITY COMMISSION MINUTES October 8, 2009 Page 2 improvement. Huck reported having recently viewed a slideshow presented by Superintendent, Melissa Krull, which showed test scores for children of color are increasing at a rapid rate in 3 or 4 different categories. Spera also has questions and concerns about an experience one of her students encountered with writing skills and not being allowed into the regular English class while at Eden Prairie High School. Koivumaki will put in a request for a representative from the school system to make a report to HRDC on these issues. Crawford announced a fall/international festival at Forest Hills Elementary in late October which is a big event drawing lots of people from all over. She recommended HRDC have a booth there. Koivumaki will send a link to the commissioners containing information about the event. She also has some display materials and said she would perhaps be able to staff the booth. Spera said this would be a good opportunity to disseminate information about the Human Rights Awards. Further discussion took place about setting the timetable for the Human Rights Awards and the nomination process. The bulk of the conversation centered on timing the process so the selection of the winners would not coincide with the appointment of the new HRDC commissioners. MOTION: Spera moved, seconded by Abraira, to align the awards kickoff with Martin Luther King Day and the second City Council meeting in January and to shorten the nomination period. For 2010, the timeframe will begin January 19. Nominations will be due March 1 with winners being selected at the March HRDC meeting. Motion carried 5-0. V. REPORTS FROM STAFF - Koivumaki A. Human Services Review Committee (HSRC) The recommendations for social services funding went before City Council on Tuesday, October 6. Councilmember Duckstad indicated he didn't have enough information about the services most of the agencies provide; therefore, the Council did not take action. Staff was directed to send Duckstad a copy of the applications, and the recommendations will be reconsidered at the October 20 City Council meeting. Agencies being funded are also being asked to send a representative. B. Bias Crime Activity Status No report C. Other Reports from Staff Basketball—Abdimalik Mohamed is organizing a youth basketball league for Somali boys and is in the process of obtaining funding. He would be willing to assist with a girls league, as well, if they can become organized as a group. Best Buy Grant—Balance is $105.10. HUMAN RIGHTS AND DIVERSITY COMMISSION MINUTES October 8, 2009 Page 3 VI. OLD BUSINESS A. Religious Holiday and Diversity Policy Crawford explained the International Faith Council calendar she found at PBS.org. It allows the user to find respective dates and learn more about the meaning behind and importance of the holidays. Koivumaki distributed drafts of the policy, Spera's letter to the Arts and Culture Commission (ACC), and a sample of what the City calendar might look like when overlaid with the religious holidays of predominant faiths reflective of the Eden Prairie population. Spera commented she would like to see stronger language in the policy other than just to "check the calendar" that would deter the City and commissions from scheduling during holidays. Neal stated he had spoken with his peers in Edina and Minnetonka about how they've handled similar scheduling policies in their cities and suggested we model our practices after them. He offered wording for the policy that would request City Council refrain from scheduling public meetings on high holy days and direct boards/commissions to do their best to avoid scheduling events on those days with the exception of run-of-the mill programming (such as activities at the Arts Center or Outdoor Center or skating practice on the ice rinks) as that would not be realistic. He does not anticipate following the policy will have a significant impact on the City. Crawford would be interested in seeing St. Louis Park's policy given the diversity of that community. Spera stressed the importance of making a distinction between special events and regular programming. Abraira said in some cases, special events will be inherent in programming (multiple rehearsals culminating in a play, for example). Huck and Crawford agreed people have the choice whether or not to participate in programming if there is a conflict. After discussing the details at length, it was decided the first step in the policy should be to check the designated holiday calendar, step two for City Council not to schedule public meetings and commissions not to schedule special events on dates conflicting with that calendar, and step three to employ a best effort practice to avoid scheduling City programming on holidays. Neal and Koivumaki will revise the draft and email it to the commissioners for input. If it is ok as is, it will go before City Council on October 20. If not, then it will be revisited and taken to Council on November 17. All were in agreement it is not feasible to avoid scheduling public meetings during the entire Passover and 28-day Ramadan periods. The following changes to the calendar were recommended: limit Passover to the first two days, add Hindu high holy days, Kwanzaa, Good Friday, and the second Eid holiday. Spera received positive comments on the letter she drafted. In the second sentence, "events" will be changed to "special events"; "and public meetings" will be added immediately following that. Koivumaki will change the date on the letter and send it to the chair of the ACC. She will let the ACC staff liaison know HUMAN RIGHTS AND DIVERSITY COMMISSION MINUTES October 8, 2009 Page 4 the policy is not yet ready,but will convey the gist of what was decided at tonight's meeting. B. Conflict Resolution Training - Koivumaki The conflict resolution training being offered Friday, November 13 will take place in the Community Room across the hall from the Housing and Human Services office. The schedule was disseminated; Koivumaki noted the agenda was tailored to fit the needs of HRDC. There are 24 spots total available—City Council, People Reaching out to Other People (PROP), and school district/board representatives were some of the suggestions of others to invite. It was discovered the Community Education breakfast is being held the same morning, thus a decision was made to try to shift the start time of training to 9 a.m. Abraira announced he is unable to attend. VII. REPORTS FROM COMMISSION MEMBERS None VIII. FUTURE MEETINGS/EVENTS The next HRDC meeting will be Thursday, November 12, 2009, 7 p.m. at Eden Prairie Center, Room 125. IX. ADJOURNMENT MOTION: Abraira moved, seconded by Crawford, to adjourn. Motion carried 5-0. Chair Spera adjourned the meeting at 9:03 p.m.